Warning issued on cosmetic cream

The Department of Health urges people not to buy or use Santen cosmetic cream as it may contain excessive mercury, which is dangerous to health.

The Hospital Authority has notified the department of a case of thrombocytopenia - a decreased blood platelet count - involving a 36-year-old woman who used the product.

She sought medical treatment from a general outpatient clinic on July 5 for bruises on her limbs. She was referred to Kwong Wah Hospital on July 6 and discharged on July 8.

Her clinical features were compatible with immune thrombocytopenic purpura and its cause will require further investigation.

She had used the product for about three months before admission. She got it from a friend and the exact source remains unknown.

She sent a cosmetic cream to the authority for testing and the test result showed that the level of mercury was 14,419 times above the acceptable level.

Chronic exposure to mercury can cause damage to the nervous system and kidneys. In the most severe cases, renal failure can occur.

As the level of mercury in the product is 14,419 times the acceptable level, use of it can cause serious side effects. People should stop using it immediately and consult healthcare professionals as soon as possible if they feel unwell.